Friday, January 04, 2008

1 person called him husband.1 daughter called him dad.8 sons called him dad.22 children called him Pa (Grand Pa).9 people called him Father-in Law.7 people called him Brother.28 people called him Brother-in-law.10 people considered him GodFather.44 people called him Uncle and to another 30 plus he was Great Uncle.7 or so people called him Business Partner.Hundreds at one point called him coach.

And to Thousands and Thousands he was a Role Model.

My Dad, Skip, the man who coined the phrase "Poop and Boogies", died on Wednesday.

I could go on and on about him but that is pretty much what Poop and Boogies the blog is about. If you get a chance, go back and look through some post's about him and let me know which is your favorite one. I would list them but I don't have the time. Just do a blogger search.

As much as Poop and Boogies is a tribute/testament (I am not sure of the word) to my Dad, it is also as much as testament to my Mom (MomO9). Because for as much as anyone looked to my Dad to be their rock, their mentor, their Role Model, my Dad looked to my mom to be his.

Over the past week, from the time my dad went into the hospital, I got to witness some incredible acts of kindness, patience, strength, endurance and love from my brothers and sister and my Mom.

I also consider my self lucky and blessed to have been a part of that because there were moments of real sadness but there were also moments of absolute hilarity and laughter that only my siblings and Mom are capable of doing.

122 comments:

Once again, Bill, you have a beautiful way with words. Skip was loved by many, for good reason. I'm proud to have been able to call him my father-in-law, and I'm both thankful and proud (and sometimes pissed) that he passed on so many of his numerous qualities to you. I will miss him immensely.

William, you and your family have had more then your fair share of loss recently. I'm so sorry about your father. I am, however, happy that you are able to view his passing as just one moment in what was obviously an extrordinary life. Keep your humor, keep your faith, and remember him fondly.

And as always, thank you for letting us of the blogging world in on your thoughts during such a hard time. Peace and healing!

Not coming up with words, so much, this morning. Sending love, hugs, prayers. His is a life well-lived, clearly. And it doesn't really end. All those people he touched, and those you don't even know about -- it ripples out.

i am so so sorry for your loss... i have read your blog for a couple years now, and mostly it is because i am an only child and i love your stories of growing up in a big family. thank you for sharing your family with me.

i remember when my mom's mother died, [she was the mom of 9, too] and i recall those moments of sadness and also laughter in the midst of everything. if i get up the muster, i may make a post, in your dad's honour, about my Mema.

you are in my thoughts and prayers. you will miss your dad more than you can imagine and at the weirdest times, but he will always be with you... in the wonderful (and crazy) family that surrounds you and deep in your heart.

I am so sorry--it's so much for you and Lauren to go through this so close together. But after reading you for a few years, if there's anything I have seen it is that you are a family that is capable of celebrating the life of someone you love, even when they've gone on to the next stage of their own life. Your parents' influence on you as a parent, and as a person, shows. No doubt your dad is smiling on you right now.

William & Lauren - my condolenses & prayers for you in your loss of Ray and Skip. I know how difficult it is to lose parents, I have lost all of them over the years, most recent was my maternal grandfather.

But you are blessed by such a close family to lean on through this time. God bless.

I could barely make it to the end of this post--the final paragraphs were awfully blurry through my tears.

I don't have to go back and read the posts that were specifically about your dad. The everyday stories you tell here speak volumes about him, your mom, and your family in general. Who among us readers hasn't felt envious of your family's relationships and good times together?

I'm so sorry for your loss. Take care of each other, and especially take care of MomO9. You're all in my thoughts and prayers.

I am so sorry for your loss. I read the post Susie put up for you at her place and was hoping you would poke your head in here so I could pass my condolences on personally. I have been thinking about you a lot and sending prayers your way to help you and Lauren through this time.

I'm sorry for your loss. I don't think I ever got to meet your dad but through the stories that I've heard (and read!) I know that he was a great guy. From what I see through your website, you honor his memory every day by being a great dad & husband. I know 2 of your brothers & they do the same with their wonderful children. I'm sure you all made your Dad proud. You'll be in my thoughts as your family goes through this tough time.

William and Lauren and family, I am so sorry to hear about your loss....If your dad was anything like you, he was a witty lovable man....My thoughts are with your mom too.....I know what it's like to loose a husband.....God Bless you all.....judy

Bill,My condolences to to you and your family on the loss of a good man. They are few in this world. You have been privileged to be a son to two of them.

I never met your Dad but through Poop and Boogies I knew him. At time like this, as I'm sure you have already discovered, a river of tears can disappear in a single bubble of laughter. It's the laughter, and the love that remains, and will keep him in your hearts, and everyone elses for ever.Love, Jim

In all your stories I always had a picture in my head of your dad, sitting at the head of the table, telling you to shut up and eat your poop and boogies. I think that table sounded like a wonderful place to be.

I loved the stories about your dad taking apart the brand new oven and teaching you to drive in his old van.

everyone commenting is expressing sorrow for you loss.and i completely get this sentiment.I, on the other hand, am going to express joy and gratitude on your behalf that you had such a wonderful man as your father. Not everyone can say they were raised by wonderful fathers and mothers.you can.and I am happy for you.

William, Lauren and all the family, I feel your pain and offer you prayer and sympathy. The family that he and MomO9 raised are a testament to what a great parents they were/are.

My favorite story without looking through the archives is the one about the spanking that wasn't a spanking. And if that isn't on this blog, it should be...LOL...and also offering to take a MomO9 for a walk because Lauren hadn't had a "hard one" for awhile (taco shell).

I am very sorry for the loss of your father. He obviously was a wonderful man and even though I did not know him, or your family, I have enjoyed reading about him over the past year or so. Hugs to Momo9 as well!

Poop and Boogies has made me laugh so many times and I have cried twice in the last month, with both Ray and Skip passing away. I am so sorry for your loss...and glad to know your family is such an amazing one who can lean on one another in times like this and even laugh under the most trying of times. Bless you all.

William. I have just read through a handful of posts about your dad. This one is my favorite, but all of them gave me a smile, and all were evidence of why he was so well-respected. As I said in my email, I know, through your stories and your own parenting, what a great man your father was. And I know how much he is missed. You were each so lucky to have had his guidance and humor. And he was lucky to have lived a life surrounded by love.

I am SO sorry to hear about your dad. I have lurked here for a little while now and have always loved your sense of humor and honesty. By the sounds of things - you must be a lot like him. May God bring you and your family grace, comfort and peace that only He can.

Coming out of lurkdom to send my heartfelt condolences to you and your family. And to Lauren and her family on the recent loss of her dad. Sounds like you both had great fathers, which is such a blessing - I'm sure you guys know that.

I'm terribly sorry for your loss. You've made me smile and laugh w/ your stories of your Daddy. I'm particularly fond of the tales you told about his van and the bike riding lessons. Praying for peace and comfort for your family.

Wow. I am just in shock. I am SO SORRY. You guys have really been through it lately! It goes without saying that I am praying for all of you. I can't stand this kind of thing!

You guys are blessed to be part of such a wonderful, close and loving family. All the memories will certainly be cherished forever. I am very glad that you moved back close to home. As I am sure you are. I am sure you have all thought of all of the great bonds that Max and Wyatt formed with their grandpa since you have moved back and were living there for those months.

They are still young, but will certainly have a faint memory of the wonderful man, which I know the rest of you will always keep alive for them by laughing, crying and sharing your stories with the boys and any other kids you and Lauren have in the future.

I will stop rambling but wanted to tell you how sad I am for all of you, since you will miss him so much. It is always harder for us who are left behind, than it is for the loved ones who go on ahead.

Without a doubt, the best Skip blog entry is the excuse-note writing about Senior Cut Day at our glorious alma mater...I crack up just at the thought of it. (it's in october 2006 - i looked back & found it)I could hear that story again and again. It is perfect just in so many ways.Lots and lots of love to you and your family. We're thinking of you.

delurking to say: oh, Bill, I am so sorry to hear about your dad, and a belated same to Lauren, as well. my father and I were not very close, and it still shook me to my core when he died, so I can only imagine how you are feeling. the closeness of your family will help all of you through.

i am delurking to comment that i am so sorry for your loss (as well as lauren's) your love for your father is evident in the words that you write about him..you & your family are in my thoughts & prayers

well, gosh darn it, this totally blind-sided me. i am sorry beyond typed-written words to hear about your family's and your loss, and so close after lauren's dad's passing too. :( i wonder what they're doing up there together in Heaven with God? maybe your dad is teaching someone how to drive? or perhaps he's fixing an unbroken rotisserie oven? i'm sure the two of them are full of love and light up there, watching over you all with joy and proudness at their many accomplishments. my deepest sympathies to your mom, though, who's loved him the longest. i will pray for her strength and peace, and for all of your hearts to heal and celebrate his life. love you.

p.s. i'm so glad that you, lauren, and the boys got a chance to live with them for six months or so last year and soak up as much of him as you could during your time together.

I'm sorry to hear about the loss of your Dad. My Mom passes away a little over two years ago and I still cannot believe it. Just know that he is at peace. You are fortunate to have a loving family and friends. Stay strong. I will keep your Dad and family in my thoughts and prayers.

My heart broke when I read this post. I am so sorry for your loss. Remember to take care of yourself through out all of this. My fav. post without looking is the one where your mom had asked him to repair something for her for the holidays(something to bake an extra ham or turkey in I think)Anyway he never got around to until he saw it sitting by the back door and thought he better fix it sincs she was about to need it. Turned out it was the new one. This one my husband and I laughed & laughed about. Your dad sounded like a great man just know that you don't have to look far to find him. He is right there in you & your boys I am sure. Hugs & Prayers!

showing my face to let you know how you and your family are in mu thoughts and prayers at this difficult time. I hope all the prayers sent from cyberspace envelope your family in love, peace and comfort. know your father's heart will always be with you. PS I use you fathers phrase poop and boogies ALL the time...shuts kids right up :)))becky..

Please know that my heart goes out to you and your family during this difficult time, and so close on the heels of your other losses. Your dad was obviously a very loved man, and a blessing to many, many people. May the memories of all your good times together help tide you over.

Oh Bill I'm so very sorry. For both of you to lose your dads in such a short time is just awful. Your poor mother, give her lots and lots of hugs, including one from me. I'm also very sorry that Max and Wyatt will grow up with out grandfathers. I know I am really missing my dad these days, and especially the fact that my kids didn't know him. Hugs to you as well. *sigh*

I am so sorry about the loss of your dad. Anyone who could raise that many kids and have that kind of sense of humor would be someone I would have enjoyed knowing in real life. I pray that you and your family members will be comforted as you experience this loss.

I'm from Ohio, so this blog appeals to me because of its familiar midwest sensibility. It's so darn funny, but every now and then I read something that makes me cry. I'm very sorry to hear about your double loss. What a rough start to 2008!

I have been reading your blog for some time, lurking. But I had to come out to say how sorry I am, for you and your whole family. For your family to have to go through two such large losses so close together, I am deeply sorry. Wishing you all nothing but good things.

Bill and Family,Skip was an amazing person. One thing that always sticks in my mind was his love for teaching the fundimentals of basketball. Being left handed he would always tell me to switch my dribble from left to right hand inorder to get passed the point guard.He was right almost eveytime it worked

I'm so sorry. My dad died three years ago (seems like yesterday) and my step-dad died just this past Christmas Day, 2007. We've also lost two grandmothers this past year and these recent days I often just want to go to bed and stay there. I loved your post about your dad .... the "statistics" of his life said so much in such little space. Thanks for sharing that and bringing many memories of my dad back to me.